Explore life in the countryside at our five-star museum, farmhouse and historic working farm.

Our beautiful Clydesdale horses are one of the star attractions at the National Museum of Rural Life

The Wester Kittochside Farm at National Museum of Rural Life was owned and run by the Reid family for more than 400 years.

At the National Museum of Rural Life we have a significant collection of 20th-century harvesting machines in our large machinery store.

Thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we are able to create opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and walks of life to enjoy our museums and connect with inspiring collections.

Discover how Clyde and his friends have been getting ready for the festive season decorating their stables and celebrating.

The National Museum of Scotland is housed in magnificent buildings. Find out about its striking architectural details below, and explore them further on your next visit to our Museum.

Discover the latest information about visiting our museums

The Scottish Life Archive is open to everyone. It aims to collect, record and preserve documentary and illustrative evidence of Scotland's material culture and social history.

From the early 20th century, the tractor helped to transformed farm life in Scotland. There are several examples on display in the collection at the National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride.

The National Museum of Scotland has become the first museum or gallery in Scotland available for exploration online via Google Arts & Culture’s Museum View experience.

The Library is based in the National War Museum within the walls of Edinburgh Castle.

Your journey of discovery starts here.

Within the walls of Edinburgh Castle, the National War Museum tells the story of Scotland at war.

Wing your way to one of Scotland's top days out at East Fortune Airfield.

Looking for something creative to do this December? The Museum Art Challenge invites you to make art inspired by our incredible collections. With five weekly themes to get you thinking, you can take part from near or far simply by emailing us a picture of your finished artwork.

National Museums Scotland has been awarded a grant by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) with the National Maritime Museum, London to enable organisations around the UK to work with community groups to explore experiences of empire, migration, and life in Britain through their collections.

The National Museum of Rural Life is open and tickets are available to book online.

Learn more about what’s changed to help you plan your visit to the National Museum of Rural Life.

Plan the perfect trip to the National Museum of Rural Life

The Wester Kittochside Farm at National Museum of Rural Life was owned and run by the Reid family for more than 400 years. Find out how the tenth laird and his family celebrated Christmas and New Year on the farm.

Mary Stewart's life was nothing if not eventful. Get the facts about her tumultuous life and death here.

Discover our new trail on a walk to the farm.

More than 10 million objects make their home at the National Museum of Scotland. Discover the secrets of our treasures with this unique five-part series.

Explore the highlights of the museum and our working farm with this family trail.

The history of the Reid family and farming on the Wester Kittochside farm National Museum of Rural Life.

To understand how long lost objects were made in the past, the Glenmorangie Research Project has commissioned artists to recreate Early Medieval artefacts that rarely or barely survive.

In 2016, we celebrated 150 years since the magnificent building that houses the National Museum of Scotland first opened to the public. Explore the Museum’s history here.

Our working farm at the National Museum of Rural Life is home to Ayrshire, Aberdeen Angus and Highland cattle, Tamworth pigs, sheep, hens and Clydesdale horses.

Discover objects on loan to the new Trimontium Museum in the Scottish Borders

Join curator Lydia Prosser for a guided virtual tour of our Kingdom of the Scots gallery at the National Museum of Scotland.

Visitors discovered some of the treasures within the National Museum Scotland's significant collection of oracle bones, the second largest in the world outside of China.

Our library services support the research and learning needs of Museum staff, visitors, and the wider external research community.

After 4,000 years the plough is still with us and its development has been at a slow and steady pace but the basic technology has remained the same. Discover more about this essential tool through ploughs in our collection.

Long before the French Revolution, the Scots had invented and were using the beheading machine known as the Maiden. It was used to execute criminals and political opponents of the crown from 1564 to 1710.

Recreate your favourite museum objects and places using the LEGO® you have at home!

Join Chief Chebe as he takes you on two African storytelling adventures at the National Museum of Scotland.

Discover how engineers are working to make air travel less damaging to the environment with this museum trail.

We’ve teamed up with upcyling experts Ostrero and artist Bryony Knox to create three paper-cut designs inspired by Scottish animals. Choose from a stately stag, a magical unicorn or a red squirrel! The designs are inspired by paper-cut art from Mexico . Look out for some examples in our Patterns of Life gallery.

New to the National Collection showcased the latest additions to our collections, including objects that will feature in ten new galleries in 2016.

Summer is usually the season for gala days and rural shows, including our own Heavy Horse Show. Celebrate the champions you know – family, friends or even pets - by making them a personalised rosette!

Forts were not just military bases, they became the heart of communities